Sunday, December 27, 2015

Buon Natale to you all! I am
so blessed to be spending this Christmas with my lovely wife, Isabel, and all
three of my daughters here in Rome. What could be better than touring the
Vatican, The Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's on Christmas Eve.

Naturally, the tour begins
with our driver meeting us in the hotel lobby at 8am! Believe it or not
everyone made it on cue! Wow – Dad was impressed. We started with breakfast on
the rooftop restaurant where we were greeted by a beautiful rainbow. We took a
short drive across town and across the Tiber River to Vatican City where we met
our tour guide who escorted us past the long lines to receive our ticket and
expedited entrance to the Vatican.

The weather was probably as
nice as one could expect for Rome in December – broken clouds with an
occasional sprinkle but not too cold. We proceeded through the walled fortress
of the Vatican and made our way to the terraced gardens to commence our tour.

Everything about the Vatican
is about grandiose scale! The gardens are meticulous and every view is framed
and choreographed perfectly. Years and years of design and construction were
involved in the creation with artists and architects like Michaela fell, Brumante,
Bernini, and Raphel. To think they were all here and you are experiencing their
creations in their space is so inspiring. So much of coming to Italy for me is
about the refill of the creative tank which is always in the extraction mode
and so if feels so good to get the tank refilled!

From the gardens we made our
way through the vast and endless halls filled with frescos, sculptures and
tapestries until we enter the holiest spot at the Vatican the Sistine Chapel –
Michaelangelo’s masterpiece! The frescos have all been restored and having seen
them some 12 years ago in the unrestored state and to see them now –
magnificent! What a spectaculars difference.

Of course traveling with kids
always involves impromptu interruptions and of course Bella needed to find a
restroom so the two of us broke away to find the restroom while everyone else
enjoyed the masterpiece by Michaelangeo…. Ok this search of a restroom became
and adventure all on its own and Bella and I found a whole new section of the
Vatican museum I had never seen…. Then it was about refinding the group as they
had left and had started their way to St. Peter's Basillica. Ok the Vatican is
vast made of galleries connected by narrow passageways that consist of stairs
and turns, yet miraculously through a couple calls to Isabel with descriptions
of what they had passed and where they were we were able to find each other!
Nothing like a little excitement….that's what Bella always brings us:-)

Touring St. Peter’s Basillica
and seeing the Pieta by Michaelangelo is always amazing and frankly truly
unimaginable. To think all of this was executed by artists, builders, and
craftsmen without power tools, lighting, and building codes…. I can only
imagine what these guys could do with the tools we have today!?!? It's endless
and you could spend days studying the detailing, proportions, and execution of
the floors, walls, and ceilings – not to mention the crafting of the space!

You then leave the church and
make your way onto St. Peter’s Square. Talk about scale and proportion. Another
masterpiece for sure and at Christmas the square is adorned by the beautiful
nativity scene. Later today the Holy Father Papa Francesco will give mass and
then on Christmas Day he Holy Blessing from this space. You feel the presence….

Well my group was toured out.
Four hours and we could choose to take the transport back to the hotel or head
out and explore Rome. Of course I convinced everyone to go explore only met
shortly thereafter with, “Dad, I'm tired, my feet hurt and I'm hungry!” Im sure
you have all been there! We quickly walked across the Tibre and towards the
Piazza Navone where we found a nice spot off the piazza for a nice lunch and a
place to sit and relax on the street.

I love how cheerful and animated
the Italians are – literally every waitress and waiter we have had are just
beautiful in their smile, style and mannerisms! Such a joy to be in their
presence and their energy adds so much to the experience. A cold beer, some
lunch and we were off to the Farmer’s market at the Campo Di Fiori a fabulous
piazza filled with booths of vegetable, cheese and flower vendors and of course
patrons in search of fresh produce for their Christmas Eve dinners. We found a
nice spot for an espresso and some hot chocolate for the girls, and some more
relaxation filled with the sights and sounds of Italy.

From the Campo do Fiori we
walked a few blocks and grabbed a cab and made our way back to the hotel for a
cat nap and then dinner at our hotel. Christmas Eve is the fish feast and we enjoyed
a quiet and relaxing seafood tasting dinner. Bella was wiped out but the rest
of us rallied for a walk to the Basillica di Santa Maria in Ara coeli which
required hiking up what seemed two thousand steps but well worth the view at
the top listening to all the bells in Rome and the sanctuary filled with the
smell of frankinsence and the voices of the choir.

Of course on the walk home at
1am in the morning what else do you do but stop for a gelato. Only in Italy on
Christmas Eve at 1am can you find gelato! Finish with a nice walk home past the
Colosseum. Quiet and serene and just what was needed to end the evening and
this beautiful Christmas Eve in Roma.

Friday, December 25, 2015

Ok that was probably the easiest trip to Italy we have ever
done. A little mechanical hiccup in Phoenix upon our departure so a slight
delay there but had plenty of time to make our connection and rendezvous with
Tiffany in Atlanta. The flight over wasnice as I always like to schedule that in the middle of the night so you
arrive in Italy with a fresh day.

We checked into our hotel which is a few blocks from the
Colosseum and grabbed a couple hour power nap. We woke up not exactly knowing
where we were or what day it was and shook off the jet lag and proceeded to go
explore!

Of course with the Candelaria crew the first stop involves
eating. So we found a cute Trattoria and stopped for lunch. Wow – homerun right
out of the gate. The girls had lasagna, Tiffany and Isabel ordered some gluten
free pasta – which by the way seems to be everywhere now in Italy – and I ordered
a delicious chick pea soup. We all shared an insalata mista and we were
reenergized.

Now with being just a few blocks from the Colosseum we made
that our first stop. So fun to watch the girls eyes and their excitement with
this first trip. It’s the best part of any of my Italy trips and tours. I am so
excited to have several first time travelers coming up on our two Candelaria
Design Tour Italy trips in 2016 – which by the way are both SOLD OUT! We
snapped a few photos and then walked along to the ruins of the Forum which was
so beautiful under the soft December sun. I cannot tell you how beautiful it is
to be here with smaller crowds, moderate temperatures – it was 62º today in
Rome – and this low soft light. Spectacular and mystical.

From the ruins of the Forum we made our way across the old
historic part of Rome to the Pantheon with several duck ins of churches along
the way. The girls could not believe the churches….just wait, on Christmas Eve
we are going for a private tour of the Vatican!

The Pantheon is for sure my favorite building in Rome if not
the world. It is perfect To top it off a
gentleman was singing opera out front and the sun was slowly setting and the
full moon was rising. So fantastic to share this space and experience with my
girls.We grabbed our first gelato and
sat on the fountain steps and enjoyed the music.

From there it was a short walk to the Piazza Navonne for a
quick stroll, grab a cab and make our way to the Trevi Fountain…..yes I was
giving the girls a Candelaria macro blur. Those of you who have been on my
trips know what this is all about!!!

After taking in the Trevi fountain and getting in a few
family shots, we made our way back towards our hotel but first a stop for
dinner. A little pizza, pasta, and salad and then the walk home past the Forum and Colosseum and our first day in Rome was
completed. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve!

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

We have made it across the pond and are starting the day,
all be it at 2pm in the afternoon here in Rome, as everyone went down for a
quick power nap! Now I’m trying to get everyone up and of course by the fact
I’m blogging you can see how successful I am even with the comment, “Let’s get
up, Italy is outside!!!”

You see I have three daughters, ages 10, 13 and 28 and that
in itself automatically puts me in the running for a badge of honor. Traveling
with two tweens is an adventure and when my oldest, Tiffany age 28 hooks up
with these two its definitely gang up on Dad!

This is the first trip officially for Sophia and Isabella.
Bella was here when she was 18 months as I brought her on one of my early
Candelaria Design Tour Italy trips. It will be fun to compare the pictures from
the same spots in Italy some 12 years later. I am so excited to get them out
and start showing them around. This is my wife Isabel’s first trip to Rome even
though her 5th trip now to Italy. I have been to Rome many times so
I am anxious to get out there and get them on one of my power days!!!

Stay tuned, my camera is ready and my wife
Isabel, the girls and I have some amazing adventures ahead of us including a
private tour of the Vatican tomorrow – Christmas Eve! How good is that???? Ciao

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Wow – I cannot believe Christmas week is here and 2015 is
winding down! It’s been a mad blur to the finish line with projects in full
speed both on the boards and in the field.
Add all of the Holiday festivities including our Candelaria Design
Holiday luncheon this year at Eddie's HouseYes Eddie took great care of us
and we had a wonderful get together with my amazing team!

Well, working away today, Sunday, drawing away and in the
final blitz until Tuesday morning when I will be loading up my two girls here,
Isabella age 13 and Sophia age 10, and my wife Isabel and I will whisk them off
on their first trip to Italy! My oldest daughter, Tiffany age 28 who lives in
Denver, will meet us in Atlanta for our layover and rendezvous and then we will
all fly over the pond and land in Rome!

We will spend Christmas in Rome, then drive to Tuscany for a
three days exploring Assisi, Cortona, San Gimingnano, and Siena, whereupon we
will then drive to Florence for New Years! My oldest, Tiffany, has been with me
to Italy several times so she will be lending a hand in indoctrinating Isabella
and Sophia on the Candelaria way of travel – full out, full speed! I am so
looking forward to this trip and sharing all of my discoveries with my girls,
especially those off the beaten path!

Of course there is always the thought of being aware and
alert to the fears our there but as I have repeatedly written in past blogs you
can’t live your life in fear. You need to get out there and live your life and
explore this amazing world. My first
trip to Europe was when I was 10 years old and I remember it well. In fact I
had kept a journal of my experience that I still have – yes I have been a blogger
my whole life! That trip had a huge impact on my life and the direction it
would take – straight on the path towards being an architect. Just the
perspective of being on a jet for the first time and seeing cities like Chicago
and London from the air was impactful.

I hope this trip will have the same effect on my girls!
Isabel and I have traveled many times domestically with the girls from Florida and Disneyworld, New York, LA,
Park City, Denver, Telluride, Aspen, and Durango, Coeur d’Alene, and New Mexico
– but this time we are going big! One of my favorite things is watching their
faces the first time we land in Rome and come face to face with the Colosseum
not to mention Rome at Christmas time.

So stay tuned, we will be blogging along our journey! We
have the GoPro fired up and we are going to have some fun and take you all
along on our journey through Italy with the Candelaria’s during the Holidays!

Mark Candelaria, AIA

Candelaria Design

Candelaria Design is a Phoenix based architectural firm specializing in residential and boutique commercial design throughout the Western United States, Canada, and Mexico. Established in 1999, the firm is committed to enhancing our clients' lives through quality design that integrates architecture, art, technology, and sustainability coupled with outstanding personal service.

Candelaria Design Projects

About Me

Hi - I'm Mark Candelaria and head the architectural firm of Candelaria Design www.candelariadesign.com. We design houses both new and remodel/additions all over the country. I am now in my 33rd year of designing homes. I'm married to the most lovely woman, Isabel, and have three daughters who are amazing! We love to travel, cook, play the piano, and enjoy entertaining and treating our friends and family to amazing cuisine. Each year I take a selected group of adventurers on my annual Candelaria Design Tour Italy. Our work is featured on a TV Series on The Design Network at http://www.thedesignnetwork.com/viewSeries.php?series_id=45 I enjoy life and make the most of each day!